Written Answers To Questions
Thursday, 21st April, 1955
Dock Labour Scheme (Committee Of Inquiry)
7.
asked the Minister of Labour whether he has yet reached any conclusion on the need for an inquiry into the working of the Dock Labour Scheme.
Yes. I have decided to appoint a committee to inquire into the working of the scheme. The terms of reference and the membership of the committee will be announced later.
Exports To Czechoslovakia (Worsteds)
21.
asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to allow purchases of worsteds by Centrawolex, the agency acting on behalf of Czechoslovakia.
There is no restriction on the export of worsteds, and the agency to which the hon. Member refers can make such purchases whenever it chooses. Some purchases of worsteds have, in fact, been made within the last six months.
National Finance
Local Authority Loans (Interest Rates)
23.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated increased financial burden to local authorities involved in the recent increases of the Bank Rate and of the consequent increases of loan charges.
I regret it is not possible to give the hon. Member an estimate.
24.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the interest rates on short-term loans negotiated by the Oldham Borough Corporation have doubled as a result of the recent increases in the Bank Rate; and what action he proposes to take to relieve local authorities from these additional burdens.
I am not aware of the particular borrowing arrangements by the County Borough of Oldham to which the hon. Member refers. The increased cost to local authorities of borrowing is one of the inevitable accompaniments of the increase in the Bank Rate, which my right hon. Friend considered necessary in the national interest.
£ Sterling (Value)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring up to date the table published on 19th November, 1954, showing how the internal purchasing value of the £ sterling has varied month by month, taking the value in October, 1951, as 20s.
Taking October, 1951, as 20s., the figures for the months since January, 1955, based on the Ministry of Labour's Interim Index of Retail Prices, are as follows:
| s. | d. | |||
| February, 1955 | … | … | 17 | 8 |
| March, 1955 | … | … | 17 | 8 |
Herring Industry (Minimum Prices)
27.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has considered the proposals of the Herring Industry Board for new minimum prices for herring; whether he is aware of the anxiety felt by distributors of herring lest the proposed prices aggravate the present drop in consumption of herring; and what is the purpose of differentiating between herring caught by ring-net and herring caught by other nets.
The Board's proposals are under consideration. Full regard will be paid to the views of distributors together with those of other sections of the industry. I understand that in proposing differential prices the Board had in mind the different circumstances of the ring-net and drift-net fishermen.
Agriculture
Rooks
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make arrangements to organise rook shoots in the same way as the pigeon shoots at present approved by his Department.
County agricultural executive committees are instructed to organise shoots where rooks are numerous and are causing crop damage. The shoots are usually held in May, and cheap cartridges are available to those taking part. Unlike the wood pigeon, the rook can be trapped successfully, and advice on this method of control is given by county pests staffs.
Pigs (Marking)
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it a rule that in the interests of identification pigs should be slap marked on both sides, as is already being done in many areas.
The slap marking of pigs certified alive for guarantee is soon to be abandoned in favour of a mark in the right ear. I have no control over producers' private marks, but they should not be such as to cause confusion with my Department's certification mark.
Bacon Factories (Grading Supervisors)
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will arrange for full-time check graders to be appointed, empowered to visit bacon factories at any time for the purpose of checking the weighing and grading of carcases then being handled, also the carcases of earlier animals, in order to counter the complaints concerning the disparity in grading standards and so give confidence to producers.
Eight supervisors were appointed specifically for this purpose at the beginning of the Fatstock Guarantee Scheme. Area and sub-area meat graders will also exercise some supervision of bacon grading in future. I am not aware of the complaints to which my hon. Friend refers, but I am always prepared to investigate any which may be brought to my notice.
Wheat Deficiency Payment
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the wheat deficiency payment will be for the period from 1st December, 1954, to 28th February, 1955; and when it will be paid.
The ascertained average price for about 12· 7 million cwt. of mill-able wheat despatched on delivery during the third accounting period (1st December, 1954, to 28th February, 1955) is 23/9· 4d. per cwt. The standard price for the period is 31/10d. per cwt. and the deficiency payment will, therefore be 8/0· 6d. per cwt. (£8 1s. 0d. per ton). In addition, approximately 300,000 cwt. of wheat brought up to millable standard after sale will be included in the payment. About 48,000 growers will share £5–2 million. Except for a few certificates which are under query, payments will begin towards the end of April and be completed during May.
Reorganisation Commission On Pigs And Bacon
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now announce the name of the Chairman of the Reorganisation Commission on Pigs and Bacon; and the terms of reference.
I am glad to say that Dr. C. I. C. Bosanquet, the Rector of King's College, Newcastle, has accepted the invitation of the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself to act as Chairman. The names of the other members will be announced shortly. The terms of reference of the Commission will be:
Cathays High School, Cardiff
asked the Minister of Education what reply he has received from the Cardiff Local Education Authority concerning their plans to remedy overcrowding at Cathays High School for Boys.
My right hon. Friend is still in correspondence with the local education authority.
Nato Countries (Atomic Information Agreement)
29.
asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the recent announcement by the Government of the United States of America on the exchange of information on nuclear development.
I presume that the hon. Member is referring to the draft agreement between the parties to the North Atlantic Treaty for Co-operation Regarding Atomic Information. The text of this agreement, which has been approved by the North Atlantic Council, has now been published in the form of a White Paper. We welcome the proposed agreement as further evidence of cooperation between the N.A.T.O. Governments. It represents a notable step forward, and will greatly assist all concerned in their planning. Her Majesty's Government were consulted about the drafting of the agreement. It is a reciprocal arrangement and we for our part are prepared to make our contribution to the exchange of information, as will any other member of N.A.T.O. who is in a position to do so.
Dentists (Increased Remuneration)
asked the Minister of Health whether he will now make a statement on the remuneration of general dental practitioners.
After a full investigation into earnings and practice expenses, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland, and I have agreed with the British Dental Association on an increase in the present remuneration of general dental practitioners. A new scale of fees is being worked out and the necessary regulations will be laid before the House in due course. The new scale will be designed to give dentists a net income comparable, having regard to the volume of work done, with what they would have received in the period covered by the investigation had the 10 per cent. reduction not then been in force. We have also agreed, as an interim measure while the new scale is being worked out, to cancel the 10 per cent. reduction in the present scale. Regulations with this effect will be laid as soon as possible. We estimate that the cost of these changes will be about £41 million in a full year.
Local Government
Slag Heaps
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in view of the success of seeding slag heaps by the West Riding County Council, if he will consider calling a conference of National Coal Board representatives, local authorities and his own and agricultural experts with a view to applying this method to all areas disfigured by slag heaps.
Many pit heaps are unsuitable for this treatment, and I do not think a conference would help at this stage. I have, however, watched the experiments in this and other counties with great interest and will give any help and encouragement I can.
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what assistance he has given to the West Riding County Council towards helping them perfect their new process of ridding the coalfields of slag heaps by new methods of seeding; and what he is prepared to do to assist future operations.
I have recently authorised the acquisition and clearing of two of these pit heaps, and I shall be glad to consider any further proposals the council may wish to put forward.
Ironstone Workings, Northamptonshire (Footpaths)
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government which rights of way interrupted by ironstone working in Northamptonshire will not be restored; and what steps he is taking to secure full and early restoration in other cases, including that of the path from Weldon to Kirby Hall.
I am consulting the county council on the questions asked and will write to the hon. and learned Member as soon as possible.
National Insurance (Earnings)
asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will give consideration to amending existing regulations so that the wife of a person receiving a pension or health benefit should not be restricted to earning less than £2 per week tax free.
Any alteration in the existing rules would require legislation, but the National Insurance Advisory Committee is considering the conditions under which an increase of benefit can be given for a wife.
Government Contracts, Northern Ireland
asked the Minister of Supply whether he will specify the contracts awarded to Northern Ireland in the total of £8 million during the year ended 28th February, 1955, arising out of Development Area treatment; and what proportion this is of contracts awarded to Development Areas in the United Kingdom generally for the same period.
I regret that our records are not kept in a form which enables me to answer the first part of the Question. The total value of contracts placed by my Department in all Development Areas during the year ended 28th February, 1955, was £62 million, £8 million of which was for Northern Ireland.